Collectable contrasts

[Garvin]

All good suggestions. The top end and bottom end of our hobby are chalk and cheese.

I must say I miss the days when I could be thrilled at the acquisition of a little tinplate, but there seems to be some sort of 'mental inflation' process that means with age I am not satified with less than eg. something rare, preferably prewar, and in excellent condition.

Not that I can afford it, mind, but I'm definitely gettting increasingly more discriminating (ie. snobbish!) as I get older.

[ccdjg]

Perhaps not the same kind of contrast, but I was struck by the huge power range there is to be found in spring airguns. This is well shown by comparison of the power house of the world's smallest commercialised airgun, the Bulldog pistol ca, 1904 (yes, smaller even than the Tell 2) and that of a late 18th century "strike-pump" air dart rifle. The spring of the latter is the strongest I have ever come across and takes a massive effort to cock, even with an extra large lever.
When you fire the gun (from a touch sensitive hair trigger) the recoil and noise is something to experience. I can't honestly say though that the one performs any better than the other !

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps9mdgcocu.jpg

[Benelli B76]

All good suggestions. The top end and bottom end of our hobby are chalk and cheese.

I must say I miss the days when I could be thrilled at the acquisition of a little tinplate, but there seems to be some sort of 'mental inflation' process that means with age I am not satified with less than eg. something rare, preferably prewar, and in excellent condition.

Not that I can afford it, mind, but I'm definitely gettting increasingly more discriminating (ie. snobbish!) as I get older.

So Danny, you wouldn't be thrilled to buy my little boxed Diana tinplate, and you were my main target market !

Baz

[Garvin]

So Danny, you wouldn't be thrilled to buy my little boxed Diana tinplate, and you were my main target market !

Baz

Actually, Baz, as tinplates go that's pretty desirable!

[leh22]

All good suggestions. The top end and bottom end of our hobby are chalk and cheese.

I must say I miss the days when I could be thrilled at the acquisition of a little tinplate, but there seems to be some sort of 'mental inflation' process that means with age I am not satified with less than eg. something rare, preferably prewar, and in excellent condition.

Not that I can afford it, mind, but I'm definitely gettting increasingly more discriminating (ie. snobbish!) as I get older.

Danny, I know what you mean. Last year at an airgun show, a good airgun collecting friend and myself were sadly discussing that one real drawback to having involved with this wonderful hobby for a number of years is that it sure becomes harder to really get fired up about finding (or seeing) anything new and exciting!